Wii U games and console sales looking bleak

When we first heard about the Nintendo Wii U games console there was plenty of interest surrounding the new features and the innovative Gamepad controller. Once it finally launched reflected sales were fair but not overly impressive, although many thought it would take some time to become an established product.

It’s worth pointing out that the Wii U system has not been as widely advertised as we expected, while it is hard to remember the last promotion or commercial advert showing this product. Just after Christmas we expected low sales figures in plenty of areas, with the current financial climate prompting a new money saving start to the New Year.

During the gift giving season the Wii U was just one of the new devices that were contemplated as a present, but since then it seems sales have dropped drastically. In an article on Nintendo Centrum they ask why both the Wii U console and the games are not selling, and a lack of advertising has been pinpointed as one of the main culprits.

Of course the economy has some bearing, but the majority of their target audience is oblivious to this console, and promotion does not seem to be high on Nintendo’s agenda. Even attractive bundles are not being hyped up enough to make people stop and pause, and many potential consumers are unaware of the Wii U’s existence.

Confusion about the name of the console probably hasn’t helped their plight, as after the Wii the Wii U does not exactly jump out at you. Some gamers feel the Wii U games could be better and the promotion of them would enable people to see more of the console in action, but others feel this is an inferior system in comparison to the aging PS3 and Xbox 360.

What do you feel is the deciding factor when it comes to reasons why the Nintendo Wii U games and console is not selling well?

Advertising/Similarities to the original … it doesn’t sell as DIFFERENT

DRajWatson

The problem is no good shooters or serious core games for the wii remote which is why people like me prefer the wii to hand control. Many lag problems and hackers ruin Call of Duty Black Ops 2. The only game people even want. Need more serious adult games to make gamers take it seriously.

Scott

Advertising and the economy are hardly Nintendo’s problems. In my 40 years of life I’ve seen countless businesses cite a bad economy for their woes. All of them have been full of crap too. I’ve watched two businesses run by friends start out strong and then get run into the ground by the same type of management Nintendo has. Stubbornness, a refusal to compete with or acknowledge competitors, selling outdated and underpowered hardware at today’s/tomorrow’s prices, horrid planning, being arrogantly and ignorantly obstinate, lowering the quality bar, etc. Nintendo’s not the first company to have these problems and they’re either going to need new modern leadership in order to survive or they’re going to be a software only company.